BJP using Tejpal incident to settle scores, says Patkar

Social activist Medha Patkar Friday said in the West Begal capital that the BJP was using the allegations against Tehelka founder-editor Tarun Tejpal to settle past scores, as the magazine had exposed corruption in the party.

Patkar said the allegations of sexual assault on a junior colleague were of a serious nature, and asserted that the law must prevail in matter. "Law is taking its course, and it should," Patkar told reporters on the sidelines of a programme here.

"The unfortunate thing is what Tehelka did exposing corruption is going down the drain because of one person... I'm sad," she said.

A Tehelka woman journalist quit this month after accusing Tejpal of sexually assaulting her twice in a luxury hotel in Goa.

"I think BJP will make full use of it because they were exposed... but politics aside, an offence is an offence... its politicisation is unfortunate," Patkar said.

A sting operation by Tehelka in 2001 exposed corruption in defence deals, and resulted in the resignation of then Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Bangaru Laxman and defence minister George Fernandes.